by LES EAST; Special to The Advocate; , The Advocate

They used a lot of three-man fronts instead of their traditional four-man fronts and yielded significant results from the three former first-round draft choices on the line: ends Charles Grant and Will Smith and tackle Sedrick Ellis.

Grant had two sacks and three quarterback hurries, Smith had one sack, two quarterback hurries and an interception and Ellis had a sack and two quarterback hurries.

"I feel like our D-line played really well," Ellis said as the 3-0 Saints prepare to face the undefeated New York Jets, also 3-0, Sunday. Kickoff for the game, on CBS, is set for 3:05 p.m.

"We had a lot of tempo," Ellis continued. "I don't know if it was as active as we've ever been, but we definitely played at a high level."

Last week, coach Sean Payton "called out" the defensive line, Grant said.

"We've still got a chip on our shoulder," he said. "When the coach calls you out in front of everybody, you've got to have a chip for the rest of the year. It isn't just a one-game chip. We've got to go out there week in and week out and that's what we're trying to do - dominate everything."

Smith downplayed the impact of Payton's "challenge" but admitted it got the linemen's attention.

"We reacted positively; nobody took it personally," he said. "When the head coach challenges a group, you have to go out there and give it your A-1. That's the head coach. You have to go out and lay it on the line. We all did that."

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said it's the best game he has seen Ellis, last year's first-rounder, play. Williams is in his first season with New Orleans but studied film of all the games last season.

"It was nice to see him step up," Williams said. "All those guys played well. I thought Will played outstanding. Charles played very, very healthy I thought. I thought, as a whole group, it was a good group."

Grant missed much of the preseason because of a hamstring injury. He said his return to the lineup and a growing comfort level with the new scheme are leading to better production from the line.

Ellis said he's having "a blast" in Williams' defense, which is more aggressive and features a wider variety of packages than the team used last season.

"We've got a lot of guys that can play different positions," Ellis said. "We can mix things up if guys get nicked or hurt."

Williams said he has 27 player combinations he can use. Initially, he didn't expect Grant and Smith to be in the mix, because they were scheduled to serve four-game suspensions at the start of the season after testing positive for a banned substance. However, Commissioner Roger Goodell has postponed those suspensions indefinitely while litigation continues.

Starting tackle Kendrick Clancy has missed the last two games because of a sore knee, giving Anthony Hargrove and Remi Ayodele additional snaps inside. Bobby McCray has also been a significant role in the rotation.

Smith said the line as a group is lighter and healthier than it was a year ago.

"This year, we're 100 percent, so we're feeling pretty good," he said. "We're talented; we know we can make plays and do different things. Losing weight, the variety of schemes we're using, different players, the attitude - when you combine all that together, you get something different."

Smith said he likes Williams' schemes but doesn't necessarily attribute the line's effectiveness to confused offenses.

"I don't think it's that they don't know what's coming," Smith said, "I think it's that they know they can't stop it."

The Jets have a physical, experienced offensive line.

"I still think we've got a lot to prove to a lot of people," Grant said. "We work hard every day to prove it not only to ourselves but to people in general. It's coming together. It takes time. I think we've got something to prove, and we're going to continue to prove it."

Notes

Four Saints sat out practice Friday and have been ruled out of Sunday's game - OT Jermon Bushrod (knee and ankle), RB Mike Bell (knee), TE Darnell Dinkins (foot) and Clancy. ... CB Malcolm Jenkins (ankle) did not practice and is questionable. ... McCray (back), WR Lance Moore (hamstring), and WR Rod Harper (foot) were limited and are probable. ... LS Jason Kyle (knee/ankle) practiced fully and is probable.

Jets at Saints

WHEN: 3:05 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Superdome, New Orleans

RADIO: WYPY-FM, 100.7

TV: CBS

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